From Baby to Toddler
5-week-old baby - daytime naps
EWGuest ·
Our daughter is almost 5 weeks old now. I'm still looking for a good feeding and sleep schedule. We initially stuck to 07.00/07.30 for the morning feed, then fed every 3 hours, with the last evening feed at 22.30. Usually, she'd sleep through the night for 3 to 3.5 hours (so around 02.00, and then around 05.00/05.30). However, after the 05.00 feed, she didn't really want to sleep anymore. So I've now started the morning feed at 06.30 and moved the evening feed to 00.00, hoping I'll only need to get up once during the night. What times work for you all?
I'm also mainly struggling with daytime naps. I keep reading that from 4 weeks onwards, babies can follow this sleep schedule: 09.00-10.00 sleep, 13.00-15.00 sleep, 16.30-17.15 sleep, and then put to bed at 19.00. But my baby is often awake for a short while after feeding and then falls back asleep... Should I keep her awake or let her follow her own rhythm? Also, she currently naps downstairs during the day (in the playpen or sometimes in the electric swing or in the stroller when we're out for a bit). Should I put her in her crib every time she falls asleep? What's the wise thing to do? And can you go out with your baby and let her sleep in the stroller? It's nice to be able to get out of the house sometimes!
I'd love to hear your tips.
I'm also mainly struggling with daytime naps. I keep reading that from 4 weeks onwards, babies can follow this sleep schedule: 09.00-10.00 sleep, 13.00-15.00 sleep, 16.30-17.15 sleep, and then put to bed at 19.00. But my baby is often awake for a short while after feeding and then falls back asleep... Should I keep her awake or let her follow her own rhythm? Also, she currently naps downstairs during the day (in the playpen or sometimes in the electric swing or in the stroller when we're out for a bit). Should I put her in her crib every time she falls asleep? What's the wise thing to do? And can you go out with your baby and let her sleep in the stroller? It's nice to be able to get out of the house sometimes!
I'd love to hear your tips.
Replies
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Veraaa #2
Ohhh... such relatable questions!
When I had our first daughter, I eventually started looking at those schedules too.
I chose to let go of all the schedules for a few months. We did work towards a day-night rhythm though. So at night, we didn't stay awake for an hour and play, but just fed and changed in dim light.
However... I started moving around with my daughter. If she was awake at 6 am that morning? Well... then the first nap might sometimes be at 8 am. And our daughter often only slept for three-quarters of an hour.
We had naps in different places: in the carrier, in the stroller, in the crib... and we tried to have at least one nap during the day in bed. And as the rhythm became more established, I think she was already around 4 or 5 months old... we did one nap in the stroller or carrier (morning nap) and the other times as much as possible in bed.
But... to be honest... it is what it is! Just when we had some rhythm again, she started having trouble sleeping again and I ended up with a daughter who only slept with us. Here, sleeping was simply a real issue, due to circumstances.
I decided to accept it. I did look at the schedules, kept them in mind, but mostly did what our child needed. And some days there were 4 naps and other days 5 or 3. That also varied during the first weeks and months.
Good luck!!!
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